Toy



May 28, 1963 M. l. GLASS ETAL TOY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 2l, 1960 May 28, 1963 M. l. GLASS ETAL 3,091,051

TOY

Filed July 2l, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Marvin l. Glass .and Gunars Licitis, Chicago, lll.; said Licitis assigner to said Glass Filed July 21, 1960, Ser. No. 44,334 8 Claims. (Cl. 46 14) The present invention relates generally to a toy, and more particularly to a toy kettle which produces the whistling sound of water boiling in a whistling tea kettle.

Toys which simulate articles of the adult world are always of great interest to children. Of this type, some of the most appealing and interesting-holding toys are those which reproduce household items which the child is accustomed to see being used in his or her own home, and in particular, toy cooking utensils such as pots and pans give the child a chance to do what mommy does in the kitchen. These various toy cooking utensils generally fail to sustain interest, however, because the child cannot actually cook with them but must rely entirely upon his or her imagination. Obviously, it is undesirable to provide a toy which actually heats up or boils water as it creates a hazard to the child.

Accordingly, the prime object of the present invention is to provide an improved and interest-holding toy kettle. A more specific object is to provide an improved toy kettle which produces a whistling sound such as that caused by boiling water in a whistling tea kettle. Another object is to provide such a toy which is realistic in operation yet does not require an actual heating element which would be dangerous to the child. A further object is to provide a toy of this type with an improved sound producing means. A still further object is to provide a unit simulating a heater for use with a toy kettle of this type, the unit cooperating with the kettle to create the effect of boiling water in a tea kettle. Still another object is to provide a toy of this type which is simple and economical.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings.

yIn the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side view, with portions broken away and in section, of one embodiment of a toy which includes a simulated whistling kettle and a cooperating heating unit, and which embodies various of the features of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a view, partially broken away and sectioned, taken along line 2 2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a partially broken away sectioned view taken along line 3 3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partially in section, taken along line 4 4 of FIGURE 3, showing a portion of the sound-producing means;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary View, partially in section, taken along line 5 5, FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a side levational View, partially broken away and sectioned, of a modied toy in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partially n section, taken along lines 7 7 of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary View, partially in section, taken along line 8 8 of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 9 is an elevational view, partially broken away and sectioned, of another modified toy in accordance with the invention; and

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary sectional view, with parts broken away, taken along line N lt of FIGURE 9'.

Shown in FIGURE 1 is one embodiment of a toy 10 which resembles a common kettle and which generally comprises a vessel member 12 realistically simulating the appearance of a whistling kettle, and a base member 14 3, 91,051 Patented May 28, 1963 simulating the appearance of a heater unit or hot plate which supports the kettle. The illustrated toy 10 also includes means 16 for producing a sound simulating that created by water boiling in a whistling kettle, and power means 18 for actuating the sound-producing means. In the embodiment shown in FIGURES 1 through 5, means 19 are also provided for connecting the sound-producing means 16 and the power means 18 when the vessel member 12 is on the base member 14. In addition, a switch 20 is provided for selectively disconnecting the soundproducing and power means for one another.

In addition, the vessel member 12 is adapted to contain a quantity of water which can be poured by the child to enhance the realism of the toy. Thus, the child may boil water by placing the kettle on the heater unit thereby producing the whistling sound. The response is very rapid, a desirable feature as children are quite impatient, and there is no danger from an actual heating element. When the kettle is removed from the heater unit, the whistling comes to a stop, as in a real kettle of this type, and water may be poured from the kettle.

The illustrated member 12, as best seen in FIGURE 1, is externally designed to simulate the appearance of the well known whistling-type kettle. The vessel 12 has generally cylindrical side wall 22, a convex upper wall 24, and a lower wall 26. A cylindrical positioning ring 27, of smaller diameter than wall 22, extends downwardly from lower Wall 26. A generally horizontal, separating wall 28 near the upper end of the vessel member 12 divides the vessel member into two portions, an upper portion 3G and a lower portion 32. In the illustrated device, the upper portion or chamber 30 is for storing a supply of water, while the lower portion or chamber 32 is for housing apparatus of the device, as will be described below.

A pouring spout 34, secured to the upper wall 24 of the vessel member 12, provides communication with the upper chamber 30 so that water may be poured into and out of that chamber. A lid 36 for the pouring spout 34 is pivotally supported on a handle 38 which is secured to the upper wall 24 of the vessel member 12. Means 40 are provided on the handle 3S for opening and closing the lid 36.

The illustrated base member 14, which simulates the appearance of a heating unit or hot plate, is adapted to support the vessel member 12 and comprises a lower section 42 and an upper section 44. The lower section 42 is a generally rectangular box, open at the bottom and adapted to rest upon a supporting surface. The upper section 44 is a generally cylindrical shell, open at the bottom and removably secured upon the lower section 42 by virtue of frictionally engaging a cylindrical, upwardly extending ring 46 which is tixed to the upper surface of the lower section 42.

When the kettle is on the heating unit, the vessel member 12 rests upon the upper section 44, with the cylindrical positioning ring 27 of the vessel member 12 mating with the cylindrical upper section 44 so as to locate the vessel member 12 relative to the base member 14. To facilitate placing the kettle on the heating unit, the positioning ring 27 extends below the side walls 22 of the vessel member 12 so as to be visible when positioning the kettle.

In the illustrated toy 1G, the sound-producing means 16 is located within the lower chamber 32 of the vessel member 12, but obviously it could be located in the base member 14 without departing from the scope of the invention. As noted above, the separting wall 28 keeps the water in the upper chamber 30 so as not to interfere with or cause deterioration of the parts in the lower chamber 32.

The illustrated sound-producing means` 16, shown in FIGURES 1, 3 and 4, includes a rotatable member 48 comprising a generally horizontal rod 50 supported at its center and positioned generally centrally in the upper end of the lower chamber 32. The rod 50 supports a soundproducing pod or element 52 at each end,Y and the rod 50 is itself aflxed to the upper end of a vertically extending .motor shaft 54 of an electrical motor 56. The motor 56 is resiliently mounted in a block 58 of suitable material, such as rubber or certain types of plastic, and the block 58 is, inturn, held in an upwardly opening casing 60 secured centrally to the lower Wall 26 which defines the bottom of the lower chamber 32. Connected by suitable wires to the two terminals, respectively, of the motor 56 are a pair of electrical contacts, aninner contact 62 and ,an outer contact 64. Said contacts 62 and 64 are fixed to and extend along the undersurface of the lower wall 26 of the vessel member 12 to electrically connect the ves- .sel member 12 to the base member 14.

Each sound-producing element 52 of the illustrated device, asseen best in FIGURE 4, is a hollow pod structure having one curved or dome-shaped wall 66. Each element 52, which is fixed to an end of the rod 50 as described above, is koriented with its curved wall 66 extending radially outwardly and having its center of curvature lying generally along the axis of the rod 50. There is a relatively small aperture 68 through the wall 66 at about its center, which is also generally its apex. Thus, the aperture -68 is located at the point on the structure 'substantially the farthest possible from the center of rotationV of the rotatable member 48. When the rotatable member; 48 is revolved, the relative movement of air past the aperture 68 creates a sound realistically simulating the Whistle produced when Water is boiled in a whistlingtype tea pot. One particular sound-producing element .which has proved quite satisfactory has a curved wall with a radius of curvature of about one-half an inch, `and a circular aperture having'a diameter of about one-eighth inch. The depth of this element, measured generally Venhance the sound-producingv effect of the toy. It is also desirable to provide, as has been done in the illustrated embodiment, a baiing structure to assist in producing the realistic sound. Speciiically, as seen best in FIGURES 1 ai1d13, a plurality of short, vertical, radially extending bae plates or elements 72 are secured to the underside of theseparating wall 28 in a generally circular conguration around the dome-shape 70. These baille plates 72 are positioned to form a .ring around the path of the sound-producing elements 52, and in particular they extend proximately to the apertures 68 in the elements 52. Thus, the dome-shaped portion 70 of the separating wall 28 and the bafde plates 72 eiect the flow of air relative to the rotating elements 52 Aso as to contribute to the realistic quality of the sound which is produced.

In the illustrated toy 10, the power means 18 is located in the base member 14, but again, it could easily be located in the vessel member 12 without departing from the lscope of the invention. The illustrated powermeans 18 includes a battery 74 supported in a recessed portion v76 of the upper wall of the lower section 42 of the base member 14. One pole of the battery 74 is connectable -to circular inner contact plate or ring 78 which is secured atop the upper wall of the upper section 44 of the base member 14, while other pole of the battery 74 is connectable to a circular outer contact plate or ring 80 which is also secured atop the upper section 44 and posi- 'on the base member.

tioned coaxially about the inner contact ring 78. Specifically, contact ring 78 `and 80 have downwardly extend'- ing, llexible, resilient arms 82 and 84, respectively, which pass through suitable openings in the upper wall of the upper section 44, each extending downwardly adjacent one pole of the battery 74. The arms 82 and 84, in their unstressed condition, are located so that they do not both contact the poles of the battery 74 at the same time.

The switch 20 is operable Vto connect both poles of the battery 74 to its -associated contact ring 78 and 80. .Specically, the switch 20 comprises a horizontal shaft S6 rotatably mounted on the lower section 42 of the base member 14 and having a knoby 88 iixed to one end and a vertical plate 90, carrying a horizontal extending finger 92, xed to the other end. Rotation of the knob y88 rotates the plate 90 from the open position shown in FIG- URE 1, wherein the'iinger 92 yis at .an upper point allowing the arm 84 to draw away vfrom the battery 74, to a closed position, wherein linger 92 is at 'a lowerV point urging arm 84 against the battery. When the arm 84 is in the latter position, the battery 74 is in contact with both arm 82 and arm 84, thus connecting the battery t the contact rings 78 and 80. n f

When the vessel member 112 is placed upon the base member 14 in its aligned position, which results from the ring 27 mating with the upper part of the upper section 44 of the base member 14, contact rings 78 and 80 on the base member 14 engage the contacts 62 and 64, respectively, on the vessel member 12, and provide `the connection means 19 which connects the battery 74 to the motor 56.

Thus, a toy kettle is provided which is harmless to children, but which will realistically produce the eiect of boiling water in a whistling tea kettle; everything that mother does withthis type of kettle, can be imitated by the child. When the kettle is placed on the heater unit cal to the base member 14. f Accordingly,the base member will not be further described. l

The vessel member 103 is also generally similar in many respects to the vessel member 12, including a water-tight compartment 107 which is accessible through Ya lid 109, means l111 for producing a sound which simulates `the whistling of a kettle, and means 113 for electrically connecting the vessel member 103 to the base member 2105 when the vessel member is properly placed The electrical connecting means 113 in the Vessel-member 103 is generally identical to the connecting means 19 in the vessel member 12 and vw'll not be further discussed.

The sound producing means 111 incorporated in the vessel member 103 includes a small direct current electric motor 115 which drives air pump 123, which, in turn, supplies air to a whistle 139. The motor 115 is snap- -tted between a pair of supporting bracket arms Y117 extending upwardly from the lower transverse wall 119 'of the vessel member 103. Connected to the rotor shaft 121 of the motor 115 is the air pum-p 123 which is also Ylsnap-iitted between a second pair of bracket arms 125 but in eccentric relation to the housing 127 is a hub 133 which includes a pair of radial slots 135 into which are received radially movable vanes 137. In operation, the motor 115 rotates the hub 133 and the vanes 137 move radially as the hub rotates to wipe the wall of the eccentric housing so as to pump air from the intake port 129 to the discharge port 131.

Connected to the discharge -port 131 is a whistle 139 of generally conventional construction which includes a `cylindrical tube 141 which is closed at its outer end and has a transverse V-shaped notch 143, the outer face 145 of which is closed, while the inner face provides an opening 147 through which the air passes to provide the shrill whistle sound eiect. Thus, when the vessel member 103 is properly located on the base member 1655, and when the switch in the base member is closed, electric energy is supplied to the motor 115 which, in turn, drives the air pump 123. The pump 123 supplies a dow of air to the whistle 139 which produces the desired sound effect. The outward voperation of the toy 161 is substantially identical to that of the toy 1G.

Another air pump (not shown) which has been successfully utilized to supply air to the whistle 129 includes a flexible diaphragm which is Xed about its periphery to a chamber which is otherwise closed except for communication with .the whistle. In operation, the diaphragm is liexed back and forth to alternately expel and suck-in air through the whistle by an eccentric drive powered by the motor 115.

Shown in FIGURES 9 and l() is a modiiied whistling kettle toy r151 which also embodies Various of the features of the invention and which simulates a whistling kettle in both appearance and operation. The toy kettle 151 is completely self-contained and comprises a vessel member -153 which is divided by fan upper transverse wall 155 into `an upper water-tight compartment 157 accessible through a lid 159 and a lower compartment 161 housing various of the 'operating compmtments.

In this regard, the compartment 161 houses an electr-ic motor 163, an air pump 165, and a whistle 167, all of which are connected `and arranged in a manner similar to that described With regard to the motor 115, air pump 123, and whistle 139 incorporated in the toy V161. Also included in the lower compartment 161 is a battery casing 169 having an access door 171 in the lower transverse wall 173. The battery casing is provided with an upper contact 175 and la lower yContact (not shown) for engaging the poles of a battery 179 located in the casing 169. In turn, the contacts are connected through a pair of leads 181 and 183 to the motor 163, the lead 1811 being connected to the contact 175 through a switch 185.

The switch 185 is arranged to function in a two-fold capacity, i.e., to provide a manual ofi-on switch and to provide a normally open switch which is closed when the kettle 153 is placed on a flat supporting surface. More particularly, the switch 185 includes one flexible contact blade 187 which is pivotally mounted by an eyelet 188 or other suitable means to the lower transverse Wall 173 and can be swung to and from Ka position of vertical alignment with the adjacent end of the contact 175. Extending downwardly from the lower side of the outer end of the llexible blade 187 is a button 189 which projects through an opening 191 in the lower transverse wall 173. Normally, Iwhen the exible blade 137 is in vertical alignment with the adjacent end of the contact 175, the button 189 projects through the opening 191 to a position beyond the bottom edge of the vessel member 153, the blade 187 and contact 175 being spaced apart. When the kettle 151 is placed on a flat support-ing surface the button 189 -will move inwardly of the kettle through the opening 191 to electrically connect the contact blade 187 with the adjacent end of the contact 175, thereby energizing the motor 163. Thus, when the kettle is placed on a dat supporting surface a whistling sound will be produced when the outer end of the contact blade 187 is in alignment -with the adjacent end of the contact 175. -In order to prevent unwanted operation of the kettle, the contact plate 187 can be swung about its pivot 188 to a point of misalignment with the contact so that, even when thekettle is supported on a flat surface, the motor 163` will remain disconnected from the battery 179, and no sound effect will be produced.

Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A toy whistling kettle comprising, in combination, a vessel simulating the appearance of a whistling kettle and including a iirst chamber for containing water, means defining a second chamber in said Vessel sealed from communication with said rst chamber, sound producing means within said second chamber for producing a sound such as that normally associated with the boiling of water in a whistling kettle, said sound producing means including la rotatable member having a hollow element at its outer end, said hollow element having an aperture at a point on it farthest from the center of rotation of Said rotatable member, and power means connected 'with said rotatable member and operable to actuate said sound producing means.

2. A toy whistling kettle comprising, in combination, a vessel simulating the appearance of a whistling kettle and including a first chamber for containing water, means deiining `a second chamber in said vessel sealed from communication with said rst chamber, sound producing means within said second chamber for producing a sound such as that normally associated with the boiling o .water in a whistling kettle, said sound producing means including a rotatable member having a hollow element at its outer end, said hollow element having an aperture at a point on it farthest from the center of rotation of said rotatable member, `a series of bathe plates in said second 'chamber extending in spaced apart relation to one another and with their planes in radial relation to the center of rotation of said rotatable element, the inner edges of said baffle plates being located just outwardly of the path of rotation of said rotatable element, and power means connected 4with said rotatable element and operable to `actuate said sound producing means.

3. A toy whistling kettle comprising, in combination, a vessel member simulating a kettle, `a base member simulating a heating unit and adapted to support said vessel member, sound-producing means within one of said members forproducing a sound simulating that of water boiling in va whistling kettle, said sound-producing means including a Whistle producing element land electrical motor for effecting movement of `air relative to said element, an electrical circuit for electrically connecting said motor of the sound-producing means to a source of power, a lirst part of said circuit being on said base member, and ya second part of said circuit being on said vessel member `and so positioned Ias to engage said lirst part of the circuit to complete the circuit when said vessel member is placed upon said base member, and a switch connected to said circuit and selectively operable to open said circuit.

4. A toy whistling kettle comprising, in combination, a vessel anember simulating a kettle, said vessel member including tmeans defining a first chamber adapted to hold a quantity lof water, a pouring spout connected to said irst chamber and providing access thereto, means deining a second chamber separated from said rst chamber, sound-producing means Within :said second chamber for producing a sound simulating that of water boiling in a whistling kettle, said sound-producing means including a whistle-producing rotatable element and an electrical rmotor for rotating said rotatable element, a base member simulating a heating unit and adapted to support said vessel member, a battery within one of said members, an electrical circuit for electrically connecting said battery to said motor of lthe sound-producing means, al

rst part of said electrical circuit being on said base member and a second part of said circuit being on said vessel member and so positioned as to engage said irst part of ythe circuit to completerthe circuit when said vessel member is placed upon -said base member in a predetermined position, meansrto locate said vessel member on said'base member in said predetermined position, and a switch connected to said circuit and -selectively operable to open said circuit.

5. A toyyvvhistlingY kettle comprising, in combination, a VVessel member simulating a kettle and adapted to rest in the upright position upon =a supporting surface, said vessel member including means for producing Va sound simulating that of Water boiling in a Whistling kettle, said sound-producing means including a Vwhistle producing element, an air pump connected to said Whistle producing element for effecting movement of air relative to said element, Vand an electric motor drivingly connected to saidair pump, a source of electrical current and a circuit electrically connecting -said motor to said source of electrical current, said circuit being normally open and 'inoluding an element Ion the bottom surface of said vessel whereby the circuit is closable incident to placement of said Vessel member on the :supporting surface.

6. A toy Whistling kettle comprising, in combination, a vessel member simulating a kettle, a base member simulating a heating unit and adapted to support said vessel member, sound-producing means within one of said members for producing a sound simulating that of Water boiling in a Whistling kettle, said sound-producing means inoluding la Whistle producing element and means driven by an electrical motorfor effective movement of air relative to said element, andan electrical circuit for electrically connecting said motor of the sound-producing means to a source of power, a rst part of said circuit being on said base member, and a second part of said circuit being on said vessel member and so positioned as to engage said said rst part of the circuit to complete the circuit when said vessel member is placed Yupon said base member.

7. A toy Whistling kettle comprising, in combination, a vessel member simulating a kettle, "a base member simulating a heating unit and adapted to support said vessel member, means on each Iof said -members engageable with one another when said Vessel is supported on saidY base, sound-producing means Within one of said members for producing a sound simulating thatV of Water boiling in a. Whistling kettle, said sound-producing means being connected to said engaging means of said one member, energy storage means Within vthe other of said members and connected to said engaging means of said other member, interengagement of said engaging means being effective to connect said sound-producing means and said energy-storage means so tas to cause a transfer of energy `therebetween and actua-te said sound-producing means.

8. A toy Whistling kettle comprising, in combination, a vessel member simulating a Whistling kettle, a base member simulating a heating unit yand ladapted to support said vessel member, electrically `operated means within one of said members for producing a sound simulating :that created by Water boiling in a Whistling kettle, battery means Within one of'said members, and an electrical circuit -for electrically connecting said sound-producing means to a source iof power, a .lirst part of said circuit being fon said base member, and a second part of said circuit being on said -vessel member and so positioned `as to engage said-iirst part of the circuit to complete the circuit when said vessel member is placed upon said base member. y

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,861,365 Block Nov. 2,5,v 1958 

7. A TOY WHISTLING KETTLE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION A VESSEL MEMBER SIMULATING A KETTLE, A BASE MEMBER SIMULATING A HEATING UNIT AND ADAPTED TO SUPPORT SAID VESSEL MEMBER, MEANS ON EACH OF SAID MEMBERS ENGAGEABLE WITH ONE ANOTHER WHEN SAID VESSEL IS SUPPORTED ON SAID BASE, SOUND-PRODUCING MEANS WITHIN ONE OF SAID MEMBERS FOR PRODUCING A SOUND SIMULATING THAT OF WATER BOILING IN A WHISTLING KETTLE, SAID SOUND-PRODUCING MEANS BEING CONNECTED TO SAID ENGAGING MEANS OF SAID ONE MEMBER, ENERGY STORAGE MEANS WITHIN THE OTHER OF SAID MEMBERS AND CONNECTED TO SAID ENGAGING MEANS OF SAID OTHER MEMBER, INTERENGAGEMENT OF SAID ENGAGING MEANS BEING EFFECTIVE TO CONNECT SAID SOUND-PRODUCING MEANS AND SAID ENERGY-STORAGE MEANS SO AS TO CAUSE A TRANSFER OF ENERGY THEREBETWEEN AND ACTUATE SAID SOUND-PRODUCING MEANS. 